European title for Martina in 100 meters

AMSTERDAM – The Curaçao-born Churandy Martina has won gold in the 100 meters in the European Championships in Amsterdam. The 32-year-old sprinter beats, after a huge acceleration at the end, with a minimal difference the Turkish sprinter Jak Ali Harvey. Both record 10.07 seconds but Martina is declared the winner.

Martina had come into the final from afar. His start - often the sore point - was pretty good. The acceleration in the second part of the race was all too powerful. Solomon Bockarie, the second Dutchman in the final, was quite well off but finished seventh.

Martina had already been European champion before. In 2012, he was the best in the 200 meters, his favorite distance.

Martina stunned the athletics fans at the packed tribunes of the Olympic Stadium. He himself was convinced that it would roll out a medal. “Gold was difficult.”